Eye Exams

Yearly eye exams are especially important as we age.

1) History & Info

You will be asked to complete a form describing your medical history and any problems with your vision or other medical conditions. You will also be asked to provide insurance information - both medical and any vision coverage. Bring your cards with you so we can copy them.

2) Eye Chart

You will be asked to read the smallest row you can see clearly on a chart that looks like this. It''s called a Snellen Chart and it is used to test your visual sharpness.

3) Retinoscope

During this part of the testing, the doctor will shine a light into your eyes with a retinoscope to check your vision and estimate your eyewear prescription.

Then the doctor will get an accurate prescription with a phoropter by placing lenses in front of your eyes and asking, “Which is clearer, one or two?”

4) Work Alone or Together

Next the doctor will find out how your eyes work together by asking you to look at an object across the room and covering one eye at a time.

The doctor observes how far each eye that is uncovered moves to see the object. You will also be asked to perform the test with an object up close.

5) Color Test

During your exam the doctor is going to check your color deficiency.

The doctor will have you look at special cards that contain numbers made up of multicolored dots. If the numbers are hard to see or are invisible, then you may have a color vision problem.

6) Glaucoma Test

The doctor is going to check your eyes' pressure using an applanation tonometer. The doctor will place a yellow drop in each eye and then you have to stare straight ahead into the slit lamp while he or she touches a bright blue glowing instrument to the front of each eye and manually measure the pressure inside both of your eyes (intraocular pressure).

7) Dilation Test

The doctor will place dilating drops into each eye to make your pupils bigger so that the doctor can get a better view off the internal structures of your eye (retina, optic nerve, macula).

It takes about 20-30 minutes for the dilating drops to start working and you will be sensitive to light and you may notice difficulty focusing on objects up close.

Once the drops take effect, the doctor will use a variety of instruments and light sources to look inside your eyes.
ilation provides the most thorough evaluation of the health of the inside of your eyes.

8) Doctor's Findings

At the end of your exam the doctor will share his diagnosis and discuss his or her recommendations for treatment options, if any, as well as prescriptions for corrective lenses and any follow-up appointments.

9) Dispensary

Lastly, you will meet with an optician to assist with ordering any corrective lenses and frames, non-prescription sunglasses, or contact lenses.